many regions gold is found intermingled with silver; and six days journey from Bamoo (probably towards the north) there are mines of gold and silver at Badouem, near the frontiers of China. By a singular conjunction, there are, according to the same authority, mines of gold, silver, rubies, and sapphires, at present open on a mountain called Wooboloo-taun, near the river Keen Duem.

There is also abundance of inferior minerals, as tin, iron, lead, antimony, arsenic, and sulphur; and amber, a rare and singular product, is not only dug up in large quantities near the river Irra^ady, but is uncommonly pure and pellucid.

Diamonds and emeralds are not found in the Birman empire; but it affords amethysts, garnets, very beautiful chfyosolites of a greenish yellow; with the inferior products of jasper, loadstone, and marble, the quarries of the latter, which equals the best Carara, being only a few miles from Ummerapoora.

The most singular product of Pegu is the ruby, a stone next to the diamond in value, and which, according to Sheldon, is found in a mountain between Sirian and Pegu, this substance being almost as peculiar as the diamond is to Hindostan. By Colonel Symes's account, rubies and sapphires are also found in the north western part of the empire; but the most valuable mines are in the vicinity of the capital, or rather about thirty British miles to the north.

Isles. The Birmans seem to be in possession of several isles in the gulf of Martaban, the Magnus Sinus of antiquity, and of others to the south and west, but too minute to demand description, if there even were sufficient materials.*

* See Forrest's Voyage from Calcutta to the Archipelago of Mcrgui, 4to..

MALAYA OR MALACCA.

PROGRESSIVE GEOGRAPHY. NAME ASD EXTENT.—LANGUAGE.— DIVISIONS. PRODUCTS.—CITY OF MALACCA. GENERAL REMARKS ON THE MALAYS. ISLES OF ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR.

HAVING thus finished the description of the chief native empires of Asia, a foreign power, that of the English in Hindostan, will naturally attract the next attention, as perhaps not unequal in real and effective force even to the greatest of these empires. While the English colonies in America claim a decided preponderance over any power on that continent, it is not a little surprising to behold the natives of a remote European isle exercising such sway in Asia, and influencing the councils of the most remote potentates. The colony established in New Holland is also a striking and singular feature in human history; and will probably secure lasting ascendancy in a region before unknown. Were Egypt to yield to the British arms, it might be asserted that the English name is pre-eminent in every quarter of the globe.* Such are the fruits of national freedom, the parent of industry and enterprise.

But as the British empire in Hindostan only embraces a comparatively small part of that extensive region, indissolubly connected with the others by identity of population, manners, and laws, it seems preferable to follow a plan merely geographical in describing the remaining states of Asia; and, after completing the account of those beyond the Ganges, to proceed to Hindostan, Persia, and Arabia.

In the same view of geographical connection, where the political weight of the state deserves little consideration, either from power or durability, it will be proper, after the preceding description of the Birman territories, to subjoin some account of that peninsula appended to them on the south, and styled Malaya or Malacca.

Progressive Geography. This Chersonese was certainly unknown to the ancients, and seems to have escaped the knowledge of Marco Polo, though the isle of Sumatra appears to have been known to him by the name of Java Minor, if this be not his Maletur, where he

This event has since happened—but Egypt is resigned to Turkish barbarism. VOL. II.

says there was abundance of spices, and the natives had a proper and peculiar speech*.

However this be, the Portuguese are regarded as the first discoverers of Malacca, to which they were led by the vain idea of finding the golden Chersonese of the ancients. When Sequeira reached this peninsula in 1509, he found it subject to Mahmud, a Mahometan prince; while the capital, Malacca, had acquired some consideration from its favourable position, as a mart of trade between China and Hindostan. In 1511, the Portuguese conquered the peninsula.

Name. The name is derived from the Malays, who are mostly Mahometans, and in some degree civilized; but the inland parts seem to be possessed by a more rude native race, little known amidst the imperfection of materials concerning this country, neither the Portuguese nor Dutch being eminent in scientific precision.

Extent. The northern limits are not strictly defined; but Malacca is about eight degrees, or near 560 British miles in length, by about 150 miles of medial breadth, a territory sufficiently ample for a powerful monarchy, had its native productions corresponded with its

extent.

Language. As the Malays have established several governments in Sumatra, the best ideas concerning them may be derived from M. Marsden's history of that isle. Their language has been called the Italian of the east, from the melody of frequent vowels and liquids; and the above intelligent traveller has produced the following specimen;

Apo goono passang paleeto

Calio tcedab dangan toomboania?

Apo goono bermine matto

Callo teedah dangan soongoonia?

What signifies attempting to light a lamp
If the wick be wanting?

What signifies making love with the eyes,
If nothing in earnest be intended!

The Malays use the Arabic character; and an influx of words of that language has followed the adoption of the Mahometan religionf. They write on paper, using ink of their own composition, and pens made of the twigs of a tree. The purest Malay is still supposed to be spoken in the peninsula, and has no inflexion of nouns or verbs.

Divisions. Though the manners and customs of the Malays be deeply tinctured with those common to other Mahometans, yet in the inland parts of the country the people remain nearly in a savage state, and do not partake of the civilisation of the adjacent kingdoms

See in the account of the Asiatic islands a note on this subject. Some may imagine that his Boeath or Loeach is perhaps Leve> or Camboja (D'Anvillc's Asia). But it seems more probable that Beacb is the northern pair of Malacca, and Maletur the southern: for his Garbinius is the southwest point, and Stiroccus the south-east.

f Hencc Yhunberg, ii. 228. hps ridiculously supposed the Malay to be a 4ia)ect of the Arabic. It is of Sausi.rU oriyin. As. Res. iv- 217,

of Pegu and Siam. In the last century Mandelslo, or rather Olearlusi who published his voyage, describes Malacca as divided into two kingdoms, that of Patani in the north, and that of Yohor or Jor in the south*.

Patani. The town of Patani was Inhabited by Malays and Siamese; and the people were Mahometans tributary to Siam. The town is built of reeds and wood, but the mosque of brick; and the com merce was conducted by the Chinese and the Portuguse settlers, the native Malays being chiefly employed in fishing and agriculture. According to this traveller there are continual rains with a north-east wind during the months of November, December, and January. Agriculture was conducted with oxen and buffaloes, the chief product being rice. There was abundance of game and fruits, and the forests swarmed with monkeys, tigers, wild boars, and wild elephants. From the kingdom of Patani the Portuguese used yearly to purchase about 1500 cattle for their settlement at Malacca.

Yohor. The kingdom of Yohor occupied the southern extremity of the Chersonese, the chief towns being Linga, Bintam, Carimon, and Batusaberf; which last was the capital of the kingdom, being situated about six leagues from the sea on the river Yohor, in a marshy situation, so that the small houses were obliged to be raised about eight feet from the ground. All the country belonging to the king, lands were assigned to any person who demanded them, but the Malays were so indolent that the country was chiefly left to the wild luxuriance of nature. Even in the time of this traveller, the Malayan language was esteemed the most melodious in the east, and as universal as the French in Europe, s remark which has been recently repeated by Thunberg.

Pronucts. The inland part of the Malayan peninsula seems to remain full of extensive aboriginal forest; nor do the ancient or modern maps indicate any towns or villages in these parts. The indolence of the inhabitants has prevented the country from being explored; but it produces pepper and other spices, with some precious gums and wood, among which perhaps the teak may be found. The wild elephants supply abundance of ivory; but the tin, the only mineral mentioned, may perhaps be the produce of Banka^. If gold or diamonds had existed, they could not have escaped the avarice of the Dutch; and we may rest assured this country could never have been the Golden Chersonese of the ancients.

The form of the Malay government may be conceived from those transplanted to Sumatra, and described by M. Marsden. The titles of the sultans, or rajas are numerous and fantastic. Next in rank are a kind of nobles, who in Sumatra arc called Dattoos, to whom the others are vassals.

*Vol. i. col. 338. edit. 172~, 2 vols. foi.

f Col. 342.

Yet Mr. Pennant, View of Hindostan, iii. 30, asserts from the authority of Hamilton, who visited this country in 1719, that much geld is found in thS liver which runs from near the city of Malacca towards the eastern coast. H 267, 283.

MALACCA CITY. The city of Malacca, which seems to have been founded by Mahometans in the thirteenth century, was held by the Portuguese till 1641, when it was seized by the Dutch. It was considered as situated in the southern kingdom of Yohor; and in the last century was supposed to contain 12,000 inhabitants, of which however only 3000 dwelled within the walls. Not above 300 were native Portuguese, the other being a mixed race of Mahometan Malays, accounted among the chief merchants of the east. The Portuguese settlement did not extend above five leagues around; yet became highly important from its advantageous position for Indian and Chinese commerce*.

The mean and disgraceful jealousy of the Dutch concerning their oriental possessions renders the recent accounts of this city imperfect.

Malays. In general the Malays are a well made people, though rather below the middle stature, their limbs well shaped, but small, and particularly slender at the wrists and ancles. Their complexion is tawney, their eyes large, their noses seem rather flattened by art than nature; and their hair is very long, black, and shining.

Besides the tiger and elephant, Malacca produces the civet cat described by Sonnerat, who also mentions that wild men are found in this peninsula, perhaps the noted Orang Outangs. Some singular birds are also found; and Malacca likewise produces a most delicious fruit called the mangosten.

In imitation of Mr. Pennantf, this account shall be closed with a few extracts from M. le Poivre's philosophical voyages, that judicious observer having given a more just idea of the Malays than any other traveller.

"Beyond the kingdom of Siam is the peninsula of Malacca, a country formerly well peopled, and consequently well cultivated. This nation was once one of the greatest powers, and made a very considerable figure in the theatre of Asia. The sea was covered with their ships, and they carried on a most extensive commerce. Their laws however were apparently very different from those which subsist among them at present. Prom time to time they sent out numbers of colonies, which one after another peopled the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebez or Macassar, the Moluccas, the Phillippines, and those innumerable islands of the Archipelago which bound Asia on the east, and which occupy an extent of 700 leagues in longitude from east to west, by about 600 of latitude from north to south. The inhabitants of all these islands, those at least upon the coasts, are the same people. They speak almost the same language, have the same laws, the same manIs it not somewhat singular that this nation, whose possessions arc so extensive, should scarce be known in Europe? I shall endeavour to give you an idea of those laws and those manners; you will from thence easily judge of their agriculture.

ners.

"Travellers who make observations on the Malays, are astonished to find in the centre of Asia, under the scorching climate of the line, the laws, the manners, the customs, and the preiudices, of the ancient

Mandelslo. i. Col 337.

Outlines of the Globe. London, 1803, 4 vol. 4to. iii. 33.